Carpenter&#39;s bench



March 15, 1932.

w. JOHNSTON CARPENTER'S BENCH Filed Jm. 1a. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Z v m W r w v 8% my F, I W L 7, f

E w a W. H. JOHNSTON CARPENTER'S BENCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 15, 1932 mm m. 18. 1950 J.

A f I? I l Q 55 Patented Mar. 15, 1932 WILLIAM H. JOHNSTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS PATENT QFIFQE CABPENTERS BENCH Application filed January 18, 1930. Serial No. 121,674.

My invention relates to a carpenters bench and more particularly to a bench for use in fitting doors and windows into their frames.

In the process of fitting doors and windows into their frames, a variety of operations must be performed thereon. The latches and locks, together with the knobs, butts and hinges, are usually placed in the door on the job which requires that a hole be placed in the side of the door to receive the lock and numerous tools are required for this purpose. Frequently the door must be planed to insure a proper fit. Windows are usually provided with grooves along the side to receive sash cords, and locks must be placed thereon. Heretofore it has been customary for the workman to lean the door or window against a wall, or the like, while working upon it, and the tools required were scattered over the floor.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved carpenters bench.

A further object is to provide a bench for supporting a dooror window in proper posi tion to perform work thereon.

A further object is to provide a bench for automatically clamping a door when placed thereon.

A further object is to provide a bench for supporting doors or windows, which is readily adjustable for different sizes of work.

A further object is to provide a bench having means'for retaining tools in convenient reach of the workman.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, I provide a bench having means for automatically clamping the work in position, and a. tray or shelf is provided for conveniently carrying the tools in convenient reach of the workman.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the clamping device;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the device shown'in Fig. 3; and.

Fig. 5 is afragmentary front elevation showing means for supporting a window sash, or the like.

The bench may be folded into a compact A unit when not in use, or during transportat1on and comprises a pair of uprights 9 against whlch the work is supported by a clamping device 11. Interconnecting the upi rights 9, is a'tray or shelf 12 for receiving the tools used in fitting a door or window into its frame. A substantially L-shaped angle iron 13 of V-shaped cross section is secured to each upright 9 and runs horizontally i along the bottom of shelf 12 and thence downwardly at an inclination, as shown in Fig. 2, terminating in a base or shoe 14. A tie-bar 15 connects an intermediate portion of support 13 to the low-er end of upright 9. The upright 9 and support 13 are connected to the shelf or tray by a pair of hinges 16, which permit the upright and support to be folded I along the bottom of the shelf. In order to prevent the bench from folding, and supporting it in position during use, a pair of cross braces 17 and 18 are provided, the ends of which are pivotally connected to the uprights. Each of these braces is made in two parts, which may be separated, preferably, at their mid points, in order to fold the bench. The two parts of the braces are held together during use of the device by means of bolts passing through overlapping portions of the braces, or other suitable means. The back side of the uprights is provided with a ratchet 19 to permit vertical adjustment of clamping device 11. The clamping device consists of a plate 21 having four pins 22 secured thereto. Clamping j aw 23 is provided with apertures coinciding with pins 22 and the jaw is slidably mounted upon the pins. Centrally mounted in plate 21, is a threaded bolt 24, which slidably passes through an aperture 25 in the jaw. Immediately underneath aperture 25, is an enlarged cylindrical cavity 26 for receiving a spring 27. This spring rests against plate 21 and serves to constantly urge aw 23 against a wing nut 28 on bolt 24:. Spring 27 may be supplemented by a second these arms support a bolt 33, which engages A one of the teeth on ratchet 19 to adjustably support the clamping device in position. The clamping jaw forms a rectangular space in cooperation with upright 9 for receiving a door 34, or the like. The inner side of the clamping jaw is provided with a flange 35, which rides over the top of plate 21 and provides a receiving surface for the edge of the door. In order to place a door on the bench in order to perform the necessary operations thereon for fitting it in a frame, clamping devices llare first adjusted to such a height that the top of the door will extend several inches above the top of the bench. This is accomplished by engaging the bolt 33 with the proper tooth of the ratchet on the back of the upright. On account of the action of springs 27 and 29, the clamping aw is forced outwardly against wing nut 28, allowing the door to be readily inserted between the upright and the aw. The weight of the door upon the receiving surface of the clamping jaw causes the jaw to be urged downwardly, resulting in a downward shifting of the clamping jaw, as well as plate 21. The clownward movement of the clamping jaw causes it to slide inwardly on pins 22 until it securely clamps the door against the upright, when its downward movement will cease. The door is now firmly held against the uprights to permit the workman to do the necessary work for fitting the door in its frame. The various tools required for these operations are placed in the tray 12. where they will be in convenient reach of the workman at all times. When the upper edge of the door is completed. the door may be removed by lifting its weight from the clamping devices. The springs 27 and 29 are made of sufficient strength to move the jaw outwardly, when there is no weight thereon. against the wing nut 28, thereby also causing the clamping device to be raised to its normal position. The adjustment of the clamping aw, due to wing nut 28. is provided to obviate a too great movement of the clamping device, which may result in it becoming slightly tilted. The wing nut 28 is. therefore, adjusted roughly for doors of different thicknesses. The usual practice heretofore has been to lean door to be fitted against a wall, or the like, while performing the necessary carpentry work thereon. It is evident'that such a makeshift arrangement results in loss of time and ineffciency. By the use of my device. a door may be quickly and positively supported in position and the tools used in working 011 the door are always in. convenient reach. In moving the bench from one place to another, it can be folded into a compact form and, due

to its light construction, may be readily transported. In fitting windows into their frames, it will be found that a window usually does not reach from one of the clamping devices to the other. For this reason, I provide a depending support 36, which is hinged to the front edge of shelf 12. Support 36 has a U-shaped member 37, adjustably secured thereto for receiving a window sash 88, as shown in Fig. 5. It is not essential that the support 36 shall clamp the window sash, since the single clamping device is sufficient to retain a window sash against the upright at the front edge of shelf 12. The support 36 is effective, however, to prevent any downward movement of the window while being worked upon.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the apparatus herein described and illustrated is merely illustrative of the invention and that many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a plurality of upright supports, a clamping device secured to each of said uprights and including a member for clamping the work in response to the weight thereof, means for maintaining said member parallel to said uprights and means for adjusting said clamping devices vertically along said uprights.

2. In a device of the class described, a substantially vertical support, a rack on the back side thereof having a plurality of teeth, a clamping device on the front side of said sup port comprising a downwardly moving member, and an inwardly moving clamping memher actuated by said downward movement, said clamping member having an arm engaging said rack, and means for varying the size of said work receiving space of the clamping device.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, an upright support, a plate resting against said support, a plurality of pins secured to said plate, a clamping jaw slidably movable on said pins, and means for normally retaining the clamping jaw in extended position, said jaw being effective to clamp an article in response to the weight of the article.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a support, a plate slidably resting against said support, said plate having a plurality of pins, a clamping jaw slidably mounted on said pins, a pair of arms pivotally secured to said jaw for retaining the jaw on the support, and means for urging the jaw to ex tended position, said jaw being movable toward the support when the plate is slid downwardly on the support.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, an upright support, a clamping device having a jaw parallel to said support, and means ill) for moving said jaw toward the support, means for maintaining said jaw parallel to the support to clamp an article, said movement being in response to the weight of the article.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, an upright support, a clamping device secured thereto and including a jaw, a pair of arms pivotally secured to the jaw for securing the jaw to the support, said arms allowing the jaw to move toward and away from the support, and means for maintaining the face of the jaw parallel to said support.

7 In an apparatus of the class described, an upright support, a clamping device secured thereto and including a jaw, a pair of arms pivotally secured to the jaw for securing the jaw tothe support, said arms allowing the jaw to move toward and away from the support, means for normally retaining the jaw in extended position, said jaw being movable to clamp an article in response to the weight thereof.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day of January, 19-30.

WILLIAM H. JOHNSTON. 

